California Biographies
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
CHRIS OTT. If an honored name, a large and growing blacksmithing and manufacturing
business, and the esteem of a host of friends and general associates may be taken as an indica-
tion of success, Chris Ott has cause for congratulation, and is entitled to rank among the sub-
stantial and leading German-American citizens of Oakdale and Stanislaus county. A young man
as yet, having been born near Berlin, Germany, January 24, 1873, � e has worked his way up-
without money or influence, and has richly profited by his opportunities since coming to Cali-
fornia with his parents in 1880. His father, William, and his mother, Carrie (Keyser) Ott,
were both born in Germany, and possessed the typical traits which have made the Teuton a
welcome and reliable addition to American affairs. He is the fourth oldest in a family of
seven, and this county is also profiting by the energy and resource of his brothers, who are
large grain and stock ranchers. The elder Ott settled on a farm near Knights Ferry, owning
a hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated until his death in 1898, and which is
still occupied by his widow.
While on the home farm near Knights Ferry Mr. Ott attended the district schools, and in
1890 apprenticed to Nightingale & Stearns for three years, afterward finding employment with
Stearns & Harray for several years, or until buying out Holliday's old blacksmith shop in 1901.
The little shop proved altogether inadequate for the business which he intended conducting, so
he greatly enlarged it, put in new machinery including a ten-horse-power engine, planes, saws,
hammers, and all kinds of fine tools, and started in to manufacture wagons, plows, harrows, and
other farm machinery, and to do all manner of repairing. While making a specialty of horse-
shoeing, he has worked up a large general repair and manufacturing trade and has won the
entire confidence of a public, which appreciates and demands high-grade work. His shop is now
50x75 feet in dimensions, and is one of the most complete in Stanislaus county. Mr. Ott is
a natural mechanic, and his success rests chiefly upon the foundation of a genuine liking for
his work, and upon indefatigable industry in pursuing the best in his line. Since coming to
Oakdale he married Alice Burns, and has a pleasant home for his wife, who is a native of
Tulare county, this state. Mr. Ott subscribes to the principles of the Democratic party, and as
a fraternalist is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is well known for
his uprightness, sincerity and obligingness, and for an optimistic nature which sees the best side
of nature, the world and his friends.